The Paris Court of Appeal sentenced the leader of National Rally, Marine Le Pen, on Tuesday to a disqualification penalty that, in practice, would not prevent her participation in the French presidential elections of 2027. However, the leader also received a sentence of house arrest with an electronic bracelet, a measure she considers incompatible with running an electoral campaign.
The ruling establishes a total disqualification of 45 months, although 30 months were suspended and the remaining 15 months began to be counted from the first-instance ruling issued in March of last year, so that period is already considered fulfilled. Thus, Le Pen keeps the legal possibility of running as a presidential candidate open.
House arrest and criticism of the ruling
In addition to the disqualification, the leader was sentenced to three years in prison, of which she must serve one year under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, while the other two years were suspended. She will also face a fine of 100,000 euros.
Le Pen had warned days earlier that such a measure would seriously hinder a potential presidential campaign.
"When one is a presidential candidate, one needs to have complete freedom of movement. I cannot depend on a magistrate authorizing me to attend an event," she stated recently in a television interview.
The specific conditions of the house arrest will be defined by the judge in charge of executing the sentence and could be decisive for the leader's political future.
